Nov 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) enters the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings toppled the Tennessee Titans last weekend and upped their record to 8-2 in a season when they were only “supposed” to win six or seven games, according to sportsbooks.
Eleven weeks are in the books, and Minnesota is in the driver’s seat to reach the postseason based on its current standing. The Vikings have 94.8% odds of reaching the playoffs, per DVOA.
And with seven games left, these are the Vikings’ three easiest by the numbers.
W-L Record: 6-5
Offense EPA/Play Ranking: 12th
Defense EPA/Play Ranking: 24th
Let’s get this announcement out of the way: Minnesota has no “easy” games left. Those are over after wins over the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans.
Therefore, at the bottom of this per difficulty live the Falcons. Atlanta’s defense is not scary, and truth be told, it should’ve drafted Dallas Turner seven months ago to fix its EDGE problem. Alas, it did not.
The Kirk Cousins revenge angle is in play for this contest, but Vikings fans should take solace in knowing that Brian Flores will be prepared for Cousins’ tool bag. Do you trust Cousins more to expose Flores or Flores to expose Cousins? Choose your fighter.
W-L Record: 4-6
Offense EPA/Play Ranking: 24th
Defense EPA/Play Ranking: 7th
This game will occur in four days.
If the Vikings didn’t have a documented splotchy history at Soldier Field, this showdown wouldn’t feel dire. However, Minnesota virtually never plays pristine football in Chicago, so this contest won’t be simple.
On paper, Flores’ unit should smother rookie passer Caleb Williams, and the Vikings should win 20-17 or something in the neighborhood.
It’s worth noting that Minnesota hasn’t lost a game at Soldier Field in five years.
W-L Record: 4-6
Offense EPA/Play Ranking: 24th
Defense EPA/Play Ranking: 7th
A return meeting three weeks after the first Bears-Vikings tryst, this meeting will occur at U.S. Bank Stadium, making it the “easiest” game remaining on the docket.
As mentioned above, Minnesota’s defense should stifle Williams — that’s what Flores does to inexperienced quarterbacks — and the Bears’ defense should hold Minnesota in check, relatively speaking.
The home crowd will carry the Vikings in this one, and they might just win it in a squeaker.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.